Title supplied by cataloger. Rolland Joseph 'Speedy' Curtis was born in Louisiana in 1922. After serving three years in the Marines during World War II, he and his wife, Gloria, relocated from New Orleans to Los Angeles in 1946. Curtis served four years with the Los Angeles Police Department, but resigned from the force in order to pursue both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from USC. He later became involved in city politics, as an associate of Sam Yorty, and later a field deputy to City Council members Billy Mills and Tom Bradley. He was briefly director of the Model Cities program in 1973. Rolland J. Curtis died in his home in 1979, the victim of a homicide. An affordable housing complex on Exposition Blvd. near Vermont Ave. was named in his honor in 1981, along with a nearby street and park.; Golden State Mutual was the largest black-owned insurance company west of the Mississippi. Its business expanded into a five-story building on the corner of Western and Adams Boulevards that was designed by Paul R. Williams. Its founders started the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Co. Afro-American Art Collection. Charles N. Chapman (left) who is campaigning for assembly member of District 61 in the California State Assembly, shakes hands with an unidentified man in front of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company. The unidentified man is holding a briefcase and a campaign flyer that reads, "Voice of the people, Charles N. "Chuck" Chapman for State Assembly, 61st District, Democrat - Vote June 7th." Chapman, who became the first African American to be elected president of the Los Angeles All City Employees Association (ACEA) in 1964, was unsuccessful in his bid to unseat 26-year incumbent, Assemblyman Lester A. McMillan. A sign on the window advertising the 32nd annual insurance week which took place May 9th-14th, 1966, is partially visible in the background. The Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company, located at 5133 West Adams Blvd., was an African-American-owned company whose mission was to provide dignified employment for African Americans and to provide them with insurance protection. Photograph circa 1966. See images 00130110 through 00130118 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
All City Employees Association (Los Angeles, Calif.)--Presidents Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Co African American men Men Political candidates Political campaigns Politicians Campaign paraphernalia Insurance companies Buildings Windows Briefcases Handshaking Smiling Los Angeles (Calif.)
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